Garbling the English language


Our public figures’ prowess at communicating in this lingua franca leaves much to be desired. That said, isn’t it time we do some soul-searching and ask what we’ve done to pick up a foreign language?

POLITICIANS have done enough to embarrass us Malaysians, so the last thing we need is for them to flaunt their atrocious command of the English language as well.

Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
Wong Chun Wai ,
Wong Chun Wai

Wong Chun Wai

Wong Chun Wai began his career as a journalist in Penang and served Star Media Group for nearly four decades in various capacities and roles. He was group editorial and corporate affairs adviser to the group, after having served as group managing director/chief executive officer. "On The Beat" debuted on Feb 23, 1997. Chun Wai has penned the column weekly without a break, except for occasional press holidays when the paper was not published. In May 2011, a compilation of selected articles of On The Beat was published as a book and launched in conjunction with his 50th birthday. Chun Wai also comments on current issues in The Star. He is now chairman of national news agency Bernama.

Next In Opinion

What Dolly Parton taught a middle-class Malay boy
Athletes deserve better than our silence
Nation was built through trust across communities
Revised strata law must be able to curtail wrongdoings
Take a kinder approach to strays
Wage policy should contribute to long-term economic sustainability
Repealing Auku is only part of the work; the harder part is to change the culture it helped entrench
True spirit of independence lives in our unity
Tax reform should safeguard welfare of the rakyat
Rukun Negara the moral compass of our nation

Others Also Read